Overview
- Tottenham sit bottom of the Premier League after five matches with two points and no league wins, and they were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Liverpool.
- The club spent roughly £300m–£380m in the summer on a large number of new signings, a recruitment drive that commentators say has complicated on‑field integration.
- The hierarchy are reported to be compiling contingency plans with names such as Eddie Howe and Mauricio Pochettino linked as possible successors, though multiple reports say no sacking is expected during the international break.
- Inside the squad and in public punditry frustration has risen, with defender Jan Paul van Hecke criticising game management and analysts arguing De Zerbi bears responsibility for signing so many players.
- The international break is now a key assessment period for De Zerbi and the board, and a continuation of poor results when league play resumes would force the club to confront both the manager’s future and deeper structural problems.